大象传媒

Babs Stebbeds

I am just writing to tell you of my memories of world war two, between Germany and England from 3rd of September 1939 till the end of 1945.
There had been much unrest between these two countries, which made the English people aware of what was the inevitable thing that was to happen.
I was working at Mundesly at the time war was declared, in the catering trade I remember it so well .on the 3 rd of September at 11 am My Mother, Neighbours, some friends and the two children had all gathered at home, to hear the broadcast that was to be given by the then Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain.who stated that as from that time, England was then declared to be at war with Germany, At the conclusion of this announcement every one got up and consoled each other.
I got up and made tea for us all, and cuddled the children, I then said 鈥減lease excuse me, I am going for a walk鈥�. My home then was in Norwich Rd North Walsham.I got as far as the railway station, when I heard the air raid siren sounding the alert and saw a plane flying overhead the, at same time, was terrified, and took to my heels and ran all the way back to our home to see if my mum and the children were alright, and to have a little cry as I realised then that somebody鈥檚 husband, brother or daughter and everbody would soon be called up to do their duty to the king and country
I was single, and 24 at this time, therefore would not be exempt from war duty. As the occupation I was in was the catering trade and was working at Mundesly When we arrived to work on the Monday morning 4th of September we were told that due to the outbreak of war the catering would be at a standstill and our services would no longer be required and that most business in this line would be closing. This meant that that I now would be eligible for war service, I felt reluctant to join any of the armed forces, as my mother being a widow at the time and the two children to be cared for. I was unemployed for about 2 weeks, when lo and behold, I was taking the children shopping on a Thursday, it being market day at North Walsham, I was approached by a colleague, where we had a chat and she mentioned to me that she was going to apply for a job at Hall Lane canning factory, and she asked me to go with her, which I did and consequently got an interview which resulted in a job The factory was initially a jam factory, and at the out break of war was taken over by the government to can food for the troops which meant that I would now be exempt from National service,as this factory was now doing essential work for the Government by processing food for the nation.
After a few weeks of being employed at this work I was approached and asked if I would consider a job a job as a work supervisor, This job I did take on and enjoyed it immensely, and the girls under my control, worked very hard and long hours.
After a short period of time I was transferred to the main factory at Millfield where it turned out that I would be having much more responsibility. This I did not mind, as I again had a good team of staff who worked hard for me,
Also at this time I was asked if I join the St Johns Ambulance Brigade, as a certain number of staff were required to be able to administer first aid at any time. This I was very glad to be able to do, as it had always been an ambition to be able to do nursing as a permanent job of work.
Later I met a friend, he was a Soldier in the 5th Battalion the Suffolk Regt who which were stationed in the area at that time, and in later months he became My husband, We became engaged on my birthday which was 16 Th March 1940.and we were married as near to his birthday as possible, this being the 6 Th July 1940.at St Nicholas Church. North Walsham.The ceremony was performed by the Padre of his Regiment assisted by the local vicar, The Rev Chase.of St Nicholas church, to which I was already a devoted member. At this time my husband, was stationed, under canvas, in the grounds of Filby Hall, close to Acle.
After our Marriage, my husbands unit was moved about the county a numerous number of times, and we were only able to communicate by letter Then came a move out of the county to Scotland, Then back to England to Leominster, where he was allocated embarkation leave, dividing the short time we had, between me and his family who lived at Mildenhall.After this short time we had together he wrote me a letter which contained a little verse, and he said that when I received this letter containing this verse, he would be on the high seas. After a number of weeks I did receive the letter, and knew that he was heading for an unknown destination.
After many months I received from a loving card from him with a beautiful verse in it, (Today I still have that verse and often do read it). Many more months of Prayers and Tears pass by and no communication is forthcoming.
After many more months I received a communication from the war office that my husband was posted as missing, believed to be a prisoner of war, destination unknown. After more months of waiting; I will never forget it, on an Easter Saturday morning the postman brought me an official letter from the war office stating that if I had not received any communication from the date given I would be entitled to claim for a widows pension .I was devastated to receive a notification of this kind, and notified my employers that I would be unable to attend for work that day. I will try to tell you how I felt at that time; I stayed in bed for that day, without eating or speaking to anyone. My mother was a tower of strength to me I was absolutely numb with grief, and she insisted that no one should disturb me She stood by the window, staring out into space, then she would come to me and put her arm around my shoulders and to try to comfort me, and said,鈥漝on鈥檛 cry鈥�.
Next day (We often did work on a Sunday) I did get up and go to work shall always remember the staff; they were all absolutely wonderful to me, they could not in any way bear to see me as distraught as I was at that time they just got on with their work to the best of their ability. After a few months I tried to adapt myself to the situation, by keeping to working hard and doing a lot of charity work, and helping out with voluntary hospital work.
During the months that followed the bombing of Norwich and of Coltishall which were being regular targets, the planes and dudle bugs passing over were sounds that never leave you With the Norfolk coast being a large area to be covered all the beaches were barricaded, Searchlights blazing through the night sky it was a very frightening time for the children and the two little evacuee children we had with us at this time .The returning of our own planes too, was frightening, to think of that how many had not returned from the fighting that they had had to endure,they would be someone鈥檚 loved ones.One evening after leaving work at about 6 pm,the siren sounded the alert I rushed home, and we could hear enemy planes ,and realised that Coltishall was being bombed and being only about 2 miles from there as the crows flew,we could see the sky lit up from the explosions of the falling bombs ,even the smell of it in the air.We all gathered in to the air raid shelters and were still there at day break ,a long and harrowing night that I shall long remember. One can never forget the sound of the bombs falling, the ground shaking, and forever thinking that our own house might be destroyed by bombs.
I had two brothers in the services, one in India and one in North Africa, and my own husband held captive in the Far East.
War is a harrowing experience for everyone and the making do with the rations available to us; it was for us a very worrying time. Another terrifying time was when we were put on alert and notified of the possibility of an invasion by German troops. Every one gathered together to make sure that we all understood the consequences of this happening. I prepared the children, gas masks round their necks as advised, and put to sleep under dining room table for protection, Also pack a few biscuits and necessities that we had, I went with Mother through the routine of what we have to do, Dawn broke and thankfully every thing seemed to be normal. We did hear of 9 German soldier鈥檚 bodies being found on the beach at Bacton Gap, but we had no proof of this being so, and returning to work next day as usual. Dead tired, but we were safe.
And so the war progressed, every day one wondered what the next was going to come up with. We thank God again for good neighbours, always ready to help each out in any crisis that often used to turn up .The day arrived at last when the war in Europe did come to a close There were many celebrations, I helped with the children鈥檚 party held in the market place celebrating the end of war in Europe but to me.celebration was not in my mind, the war in the Far East had not yet come to a close.
Another month or passed when the atomic bomb was dropped on to Japan, this bringing the far eastern hostilities to a close. There were a number of us girls that were married to young men of the Suffolk Regt, and soon after V J. day had passed some of these girls were getting a card from their husbands stating that they would soon be getting home, also receiving official conformation that their loved ones were safe and would very soon be returning home .I was not one of the lucky ones to receive this information, Soon after this some of the lads were arriving home, by plane, ship or train. There was going to be a homecoming party. The girls at work were so discreet, and were unable to confide in me as to what was happening as they knew that I had not yet heard of any news of my husband tried to adapt myself to the situation as best I could. I still have pictures of some of the lads arriving at the station, As the days passed the lads gradually left to take their wives to their own homes, leaving me still without any further news at this point.
I did visit the doctor and he did advise me to try to get out and socialise more, if not I would likely be around, when eventually my husband was able to return. He more or less advised me not to give up entirely. I took his advise, although my health began to suffer due to the long hours that I was doing, and my mother having had a serious accident, plus four children to be looked after (we have two evacuee children staying with us now) I was obliged to leave the factory. But believe it or not, after a short period I took on another, job also an exempt job, this time I was working for the government with the Forestry commission. This job was more suitable to me because of the shorter workday; it gave me more time to help out at home as my mother was more handicapped now. My job was to receive the cut wood from the saw and to gate tally it as it came through the mill. I was taught to do gate tally and other various work with wood. I still love the trees and always have, (even when they are cut up)
By this time my thoughts were well into my work but out of working hours my prayers and thoughts would be of my husband and in my heart I knew that God would spare and send him back to me if at all possible. And low and behold at the end of September 1945, in the evening at about 7 0鈥檆lock,we had just finished, tea and was getting the children ready for bed, when the door bell rang, one child was in the bath the other one was ready, mother was sitting in her arm chair, I answered the door, and to my horror there stood a policeman on the door step. I was amazed, and my first thoughts were, have the children been up to mischief anywhere?
The policeman said, 鈥淕ood evening, is Mrs Stebbeds in?鈥� .I said 鈥測es I am Mrs Stebbeds, is any thing the matter鈥�. He said 鈥淢ay I come in鈥� I replied 鈥減lease do 鈥�, He entered our house and after offering him a seat addressed me and said that a phone call had been received from the War office stating that my husband was alive and safe and was in a military hospital in Calcutta and that I would receive official notification from the war office in the morning. This I did receive next morning with an address to which I could write to .The children cried, mother fainted, and I am sorry to say that I cannot describe to you the way I felt .All I knew was that my prayers to God had been answered and that he was sending him back to me .A week after these events I did receive a letter from my beloved husband himself. But it was not until the end of November that I heard from him to say that he hoped to be home before Christmas .The last few months had been a living nightmare, then came the final letter from Sid to say he would be arriving home on the 7-30 p-m train from Norwich to North Walsham
Please don鈥檛 ask me to explain my feelings to this news, as they are so vivid.
A taxi-cab brought him to the gate, Mother and I and the two children, (my sisters little and our adopted child) waited with baited breath when the cab stopped by the gate I ran out to meet him; he stood by the cab door, and I said to the chauffeur 鈥淓xcuse me, I think you should have brought my husband home to me 鈥渁nd he replied 鈥淏abs this is your husband鈥滺e was only weighing just over 5 stones, about half the weight he was when he left all that time ago .I fell into his arms and said 鈥渄on鈥檛 ever leave me like this again 鈥�.and he never has .I knew then that there would be a lot of nursing work and adjusting to be done.I also knew that I had never stopped loving that carefree,loveing full of fun person,that went away to fight for his King and country.I also knew that I could and would do it .So after 3 days with my Mother and my family ,I suggested that we go to see his Mum and Dad and family at Mildenhall ,we arrived at about 7 o鈥檆lock in the evening just before christmas,Oh what a celebration ,all the family were there,Oh what a party.Next day ,his old employer came to see us ,he was so charming ,in fact he treated us,as if Sid were his son,During the confusion he said to me ,鈥滺ave you got any plans made for the future Babs 鈥� I said and I said , I have but had not yet moved to anywhere but my mums.He then said to hold out your hand,which I did, and he placed a house key into it ,which turned out to be part of a listed building,5 St Andrews Street,Mildenhall.We went to at it and after a short time,and a little talk,we decided,Yes we would very much like to take up his offer.We cleaned the house and moved into the property about 3 days before Xmas.
Now as this is where we were about to start the beginning of our Married life, and am so happy to think that we are able to keep our prayers and faith In God, he brought us to share with all the joy and tears the sorrow and happiness together .I am so proud to be Mrs Sid Stebbeds.As now I have been disabled for about 8,years. Sid is my sole carer, and I am also still able to nurse him in many ways through the aftermath of a terrible war.

Here I will conclude my story.

Babs Stebbeds,

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